We’re guessing that if you were to design your own version of the very best EHR for private practices, you would create something robust enough for large operations, yet tailor-made to private practices and small-to-medium operations.
Good news. This does exist! However, not every private practice EHR has this magic mix of big-company functionality and small-practice usability.
Here is a side-by-side EHR comparison of some of the leading options on the marketplace today.
What Makes a Great EHR for Private Practices?
Great looks different in this sector. Private practices have different needs than hospitals. Most need lightweight, affordable, all-in-one solutions.
Everyone has different needs. However, we’ve seen that when one is looking for an EHR for small private practices, a few of the nonnegotiables often include:
- Ease of use for both staff and patient
- Customizable templates
- Simple billing/claims integration
- An intuitive patient portal
- Telehealth functionality
- Simplified scheduling
- HIPAA compliance
- Pricing transparency
It’s also important to remember that most people in the market for a private practice EMR or EHR are running a cash-based/direct-pay model, so insurance billing isn’t always the top priority. In fact, many could be frustrated by a solution built with insurance in mind. They need something that was designed for their cash-pay or subscription model.
Simply put, your EHR is only great if it makes YOU great. It needs to improve every aspect of your day-to-day operation and touch every aspect of your business. Most importantly, it needs to demonstrate a clear ROI by taking administrative or time-wasting tasks off your clinical team’s plate so they can focus on high-value tasks like seeing patients.
What is the Difference Between an EHR and an EMR?
If you’re looking for the best EMR for private practices, you should be 100% clear on your terminology, because these two things are not exactly the same.
An EMR is a digital patient record used within a single healthcare provider, like a clinic. An EHR is a broader record designed to be shared across multiple providers, giving a more complete view of a patient’s health and enabling coordinated care.
Why Choosing the Right EHR Matters
This is obviously going to be a major investment, both in terms of time and resources. Trust us when we say this is one purchase where you don’t want to have buyer’s remorse.
One practice owner warned Reddit users about switching for the wrong reason, by saying, “Short answer, it’s only worth it if the cheaper EHR actually reduces friction, not just cost.”
He added, “If you’re private pay heavy and value smooth telehealth and flexible forms, the switch can feel like a downgrade.”
We need to remember that there is a direct tie between doctor burnout and unnecessary administrative tasks. Right now, 45.2% of surveyed doctors are reporting at least one symptom of burnout, which is not as high as the pandemic years, but still means nearly half of all our doctors are teetering on burnout.
This puts even more pressure on finding the best EHR system, because this will set the tone for efficiency throughout the entire operation. As one General internist said about their own struggles with administrative burnout, “My biggest, biggest complaint [about EHRs] is that the patient story is lost.”
Whereas if you go with the best EMR for small practices, it should:
- Save you time on charting
- Reduce burnout
- Lead to better patient care
- Streamline operations
Now that we know what’s at stake, let’s find you the best solution.
The Best EHR Systems for Private Practices in 2026
Here are the market’s leading solutions.
1. Cerbo
Overview: Users often praise Cerbo as the best EHR for private practices. They rave about it being an all-in-one platform, with intuitive scheduling, charting, billing, patient communications, and telemedicine.
Key Features:
- Flexible payment solutions
- Credit card, ACH, recurring subscriptions, prepaid packages.
- Custom branding with practice logo and patient portal subdomain.
- HIPAA compliant
- Likely the best EHR for telemedicine with custom audio/video and screensharing
Pros:
- Purpose-built EHR for private practices, as well as cash-based, integrative, and functional medicine practices.
- 60+ lab integrations
- Fullscript/Wellevate supplement management
- A secure and compliant patient portal
- Industry-leading telehealth
- Custom charting that saves thousands of hours a year
Cons / Limitations: Not the best choice for insurance-based practices.
Pricing: Various subscriptions that can be scaled to meet your own growth and needs.
Best For: This is likely your strongest choice for a private practice EHR.
2. SimplePractice
Overview: They provide easy-to-use tools for specialists such as speech/language pathologists, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists.
Key Features: Popular with solo therapists and mental health practitioners, some of whom consider it potentially the best software for therapists.
Pros:
- Strong patient portal, telehealth, and insurance billing
- It has been praised on Reddit for its scheduling widget feature
Cons / Limitations:
- It has been criticized for occasional tele-health instability
- Other users complain about a lack of specialized tools for wellness.
Pricing: Various monthly tiers for different needs
Best For: Most likely the best EHR for private practice therapy, but not as good a fit for sectors like functional medicine.
3. Jane App
Overview: Jane is an online platform for health and wellness practitioners, based out of Canada but also available in the US.
Key Features: Not the best EHR for solo practices, this is popular among allied health and multidisciplinary practices in both the US and Canada.
Pros:
- Users enjoyed the scheduling and charting
- Intuitive workflows
Cons / Limitations:
- Limited clinical depth
- Weak lab and medical workflow integration
- Limited prescribing and medical features
Pricing: Subscription-based
Best For: While it is probably not the best EHR for small practices, it is a strong option for
for allied health professionals, such as:
- Physiotherapists
- Massage therapists
- Chiropractors
Those in functional medicine, direct primary care (DPC), or cash-pay/subscription models may be better off with something like Cerbo, because the Jane app is not the best DPC EHR on the market.
4. Practice Better
Overview: Designed for ongoing client journeys, programs, and engagement in the health + wellness space.
Key Features:
Pros:
- Strong for practices blending therapy with health coaching or wellness services
- Good for nutrition, naturopathy, and functional medicine
Cons / Limitations:
- Less robust for deep clinical workflows
- Lab tracking is present, but limited
- Not ideal for medical-heavy practices
Pricing: $25–$69/month, depending on plan
Best For: Some call this the best practice management software for psychologists.
5. DrChrono
Overview: Cloud-based, mobile-first EHR + practice management + billing platform
Key Features: Built for general medical practices and insurance-based care with a focus on revenue cycle management
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface and mobile-friendly
- Strong billing + insurance workflow automation
Cons / Limitations:
- Pricing is not transparent
- Very insurance-centric
- Some users report training and support challenges
Pricing: Quote-based
Best For: Insurance-based practices
6. OptiMantra
Overview: Practice Management, EHR, and EMR software for Integrative Practitioners – Acupuncture, Chiropractors,
Key Features: Customized charting, templates & questionnaires, telehealth.
Pros:
- Good for multi-specialty practices, insurance-heavy practices, and start-ups
Cons / Limitations:
- If you’re coming from a hospital EHR, there is a steeper learning curve
- Lack of deep configurability abilities
Pricing: Quote-based
Best For: This could be a good EHR for small private practices that are insurance-based.
How to Choose the Best EHR for Your Private Practice
When truly trying to find the best EHR software for private practices, it’s all about asking the right questions and not settling for vague answers.
Whether you’re getting a live demo or reading their case studies and white papers, you will want to keep these questions in mind.
Do They Have Proven Expertise With Our Practice Type?
Where do you fall in their target market? Do they focus on solo vs. group? Are they more of an EHR for cash-based practices, or are they more for insurance-based practices? Or are they attempting to serve all markets and be all things to all people?
Do They Have Happy Clients With Our Specialty?
You have a specialty. Do they?
Be wary of companies that claim to work for practices of all types and sizes. Trying to do everything means they’re not exceptional at anything.
They should be able to tell you that they are the best EHR for functional medicine or something like that.
How Do They Stack up to Our Must-have List of Features?
You probably already know what you’re not willing to compromise on. When trying to figure out how to choose an EHR short-list, it helps to know who you can disqualify immediately.
For private practices, the must-haves often include:
- Telehealth
- E-prescribing
- Lab integrations
- Patient portal
But these are just examples. Be sure to consult your entire team when creating your list.
How Do They Fall Within Our Budget?
What type of pricing models do they offer? Are they per-provider or flat rate?
The most affordable EHR for small practices does not always mean the cheapest. Ask yourself how much time this small practice EHR can save you. How much are those hours worth?
Paying a little bit more on a monthly rate could pale in comparison to saving thousands of hours every year on charting.
“We did a little mini calculation once, comparing Cerbo to an older EHR,” said Natalie Corbin-Ricchiuti (CLE).
“I won’t say the name. But it was hundreds of hours per year that we saved.”
Do They Meet Our Integration Needs?
Again, this could be something that costs or saves you thousands of hours a year on double entry, or bouncing from one system to another.
You need seamless ABS integration, along with the ability to connect to your pharmacy, supplements, and billing systems of choice.
FAQ
What EHR Features Matter Most For a Private Practice?
When people are in the market for an EHR for a private practice, their most important features are often:
- Simplified scheduling
- Interactive and customizable charting
- Frictionless Telehealth
- Streamlined billing
- A secure patient portal
- Worry-free HIPAA compliance
Whereas a private practice’s EMR has a shorter list of must-haves, all of which involve simplified recordkeeping.
What is the Best EHR For A Solo Private Practice?
There is no single solution, magic bullet EHR for solo practitioners in every sector.
Cerbo, SimplePractice, and Praxis are generally viewed as the top picks, depending on specialty. However, that being said, Cerbo was named the 2025 Battle of the EHRs Champion by My DPC Story, based on a survey of almost 300 people in the DPC space, including physicians, clinic teams, and solo practitioners.
“I can’t stress enough how important it is to choose the right system from day one… This is a long-term investment, and the system you pick will directly impact your practice’s efficiency,” said Cara Direct Care’s Manager/ Happy Cerbo user, Paula Tomczyk.
